A Total Fire Ban has been declared for Tuesday, 20 October 2015 for the Mallee district.
CFA Chief Officer Euan Ferguson said the hot and windy conditions expected tomorrow have prompted the Total Fire Ban.
Mr Ferguson said the greatest risk would be grassland and crop areas, which were drying off rapidly.
“This is a reminder to the community not to light fires. People are not allowed to burn off under these conditions,” he said.
“Burn-offs conducted in the last few days should be checked and extinguished before midnight tonight.
“I am also reminding farmers that tractors, slashers, mowers, harvesters, trucks or utes moving in paddocks must carry firefighting equipment on those vehicles.
“With tomorrow’s wind, high temperatures and lightning potential, it is not going to be a good day to drive through the paddocks.”
Mr Ferguson said the use of angle grinders and welding equipment in the open was also prohibited on a day of Total Fire Ban.
“Fires for outdoor cooking purposes are also prohibited on a day of Total Fire Ban.”
Mr Ferguson warned residents to have a bushfire plan in place and not to rely on just one source of information.
Victorians are urged to visit the CFA website. Now is the time to get familiar with the rules around what was permitted on a day of Total Fire Ban.
Information can be found from:
- ABC local radio, commercial and designated radio stations or Sky News
- The FireReady App – which sends push notifications for incidents, Total Fire Bans and what Fire Danger Rating
- The emergency.vic.gov.au website
- Victorian Bushfire Information Line 1800 240 667
- CFA & Vic Emergency Twitter and Facebook accounts
Author: CFA Media